Automotive News Canada - June 2019 - 26

FINAL ASSEMBLY

06.19

* JUNE 2019

LETTING LOOSE A BIT ON THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF AUTOMOTIVE

CANADA TO THE RESCUE?
Base versions of
the Volkswagen
Golf are in danger
of deletion,
unless Canadian
dealers speak up
THE FATE OF THE
Volkswagen Golf in North
America apparently rests in
the hands of the Germanybased automaker's dealers
in Canada, at least according to sibling publication

Automotive News.
To put large numbers
of electric vehicles on the
world's roads, Volkswagen
plans a strategic slim-down
of offerings from the Golf
family of vehicles for North
America. That means eliminating the Golf SportWagen
as well as versions of the base
Golf. The higher-priced Golf R
and Golf GTI will continue to
be offered, U.S. dealers were
told in May.

But wait. Plans could
change, because the base
Golf is the top-selling car
for Volkswagen in Canada,
and dealers here might
be unwilling to give it up.
If VW Canada is able to
make a successful business
case for the Golf, it would
continue to be offered in
the United States as well,
a source with knowledge of the situation told
Automotive News. - ANC

One problem with Volkswagen's plan to cut the base Golf: It just happens to be the
best-selling Volkswagen in Canada. Will dealers rally to keep it? P H O T O : V O L K S W A G E N

Hasenfratz has a new
job with her alma mater
Linamar CEO has
long supported
Western University,
which selected her
for a leadership role

AS IF LINAMAR CEO
Linda Hasenfratz wasn't
busy enough running the
62nd-ranked company on the
most recent Automotive News
list of the Top 100 Global
Suppliers (October), she'll
become the 23rd chancellor of
Western University
in London, Ont.
A committee of faculty,
staff, students and alumni
- appointed by the school's
board of governors and senate
- unanimously selected
Hasenfratz for the position.
She is a Western alumna and
member of the university's
Ivey Business School Advisory
Board.
Hasenfratz has long been a
supporter of Western and regularly shares her advice, strategic thinking and creativi-

Linda Hasenfratz is the
new chancellor of Western
University, in London, Ont.,
in addition to her job running
automotive supplier Linamar.
PHOTO: WESTERN UNIVERSITY

ty with students, faculty and
researchers. In 2017, Linamar
donated $5 million to support
scholarships for women at the
school.
"Linda exemplifies the type
of graduates Western prepares for the world," Western
President Amit Chakma said
in a statement.
"She is an extraordinary
talent and highly respected
among education and business
leaders alike ... we are looking
forward to the leadership she
will bring to our institution in
her new role." - ANC

Loyalty merits a pat on the ... seat?
Quebec Mazda store
surprises longtime MX-5
owner with fresh upholstery

SAY
WHAT?

I'm scared
we're going
to be waiting all
over again, even
though it's a
different level
of government.
- Hugo Jeanson,
co-owner of
Bourgeois ChevroletBuick-GMC in Rawdon, Que.,
on his decision to add
$6.6 million worth of EVs just
as the federal government's
new rebate kicked in.
Visit automotivenews.ca
for the story.

CALL IT THE ULTIMATE IN
loyalty-rewards programs. When staff at
Longueuil Mazda in Quebec noticed some
wear and tear on the seats in the vehicle of
a longtime customer, they just couldn't let
it slide.
According to the dealership's website,
Andre Freve has been dutifully bringing his 1992 MX-5 Miata for service to the
dealership, located northeast of downtown
Montreal, since it opened in 1993.
"To thank him for his long-term rela-

tionship with the Longueuil Mazda team, we
decided, in partnership with Mazda Canada,
to give him a little surprise," the post reads.
"His first-generation Miata, still in top shape,
showed signs of wear in the seat benches. So
we chose to surprise Mr. Freve by replacing
the complete covers as well as the foam of his
seats."
But that wasn't as easy as it sounds.
"We had to make a custom seat on the passenger side, because the cover was discontinued and impossible to find," the dealership
said. - ANC

Andre Freve has been bringing his 1992
Mazda MX-5 to Longueuil Mazda for service
since the dealership opened in 1993.
Longueuil showed its appreciation by fixing
the worn seats. P H O T O : L O N G U E U I L M A Z D A

Kids' needs sway moms' choices
A new survey indicates that
one way to help sell cars to
families is to help keep the
children out of parents' hair

KIDS MAKE TERRIBLE CUSTOMERS
for dealerships: They rarely qualify for financing, they tend to get extra cranky in the heat of
a negotiation, and they have trouble reaching
the pedals in most vehicles, anyway. But many
buyers say they look for dealerships that cater
to children - with playrooms, movies or other
amenities - when deciding where to shop.
About 36 per cent of mothers surveyed by
Cars.com said it was very or extremely important for a dealership to be kid-friendly or offer

diversions for children so the adults could shop
or get their vehicle serviced in peace. Twentythree per cent said it was moderately important.
Cars.com released the survey of 1,100 current and expecting moms in connection with
Mother's Day. Respondents also made suggested improvements for vehicle shopping:
* Better information about what plugs, adapters and charging options are available throughout a vehicle, particularly for their kids' electronic devices.
* Details about specific safety features to
keep young passengers safe, beyond opaque
crash-test ratings.
* A "kid score" for a vehicle that rates the
level of ease for loading and unloading children,
especially as it relates to child seats.
* The ability to see and read vehicle ratings
and reviews written only by other parents.
- ANC

THIS NUMBER

1 BILLION

As reported on
automotivenews.ca,
the value of a class-action
lawsuit that Strosberg
Sasso Sutts launched
against suppliers TRW
and ZF and six
automakers, alleging
"dangerous airbag control
units ... were negligently
designed, manufactured
and installed."

http://www.automotivenews.ca http://www.automotivenews.ca http://www.Cars.com http://www.Cars.com

Automotive News Canada - June 2019

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